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True Love?

So The Bachelorette: Second Chance is officially over. The husbands across American can breathe a sigh of relief for maybe another month until the next season will probably start.

For those of you who are avid viewers of the show, what did you think of the outcome?

I will fill in those of you who don’t watch the show. Deanna ended up choosing the free-spirited professional snowboarder who everyone thought of as the underdog from day one. She chose Jessie instead of Jason, the very together account executive who has a young son from a previous marriage. Despite having his heart viciously broken by his wife, who decided one day that marriage and a child wasn’t for her, Jason’s heart was yet broken again.

I will admit I was a skeptic of this ending at first, thinking, “They did it again! They made a contestant choose someone just for the ratings and to throw viewers off!” However, after seeing the newly announced couple on the “After the Show” special following the finale, I do believe Deanna is in love with Jessie. I also believe that Jason is a heck of a guy to sit on that stage and endure a long discussion about how he was not “the one” for Deanna. I hope he finds his happy ending someday!

As I watched Jessie and Deanna interact on the “After the Show” episode, I watched their body language and somewhat private moments. They appear to be a couple who adore each other, and truly can’t imagine living the rest of their lives without each other. But then that skeptical thought pops in my head again: “This is a reality show…a 6-week dating experiment. Can true love come out of this process when the track record has been horrible?!” Even though I posted in a previous post that I don’t believe it is a good way to find your soul mate, I am still a romantic at heart and hope that this is their true love. (And if not, maybe Jessie will be the next Bachelor?!).

They had a quick segment with British Bachelor Matt Grant and his monkey, err, fiancee, Shane. Yeah, yeah, they look happy. Are we buying it still? Not sure, but I will definitely watch that impending trainwreck as it continues to travel down the tracks!

So let me hear it ladies, or men….what are your thoughts on the ending to this season’s Bachelorette? And what are your thoughts on true love?

Today’s Random Thoughts

1. When you get to the age that you often forget how old you are (or at least have to stop and think about it when asked), you know it’s not good. Lately, I have been in that scenario and I can tell you, I feel pretty stupid when I can’t remember how old I am! Not sure if it’s a mix of being blonde, having had a baby a year ago, or the fact that I am nearing 30 faster than the speed of light, but nonetheless, forgetting basic information like your name and age qualifies you as “losing it” just a bit. In all seriousness though, I cannot believe I am already 29 years old. I am not getting nervous about turning 30, quite possibly because I don’t have much time these days to think about it. Another reason I am not anxious about the “Big 3-0″ is because 30 isn’t that old anymore. Still, when I think about how old I am, I still feel 18 at times (other than the fact that I am married, have a mortgage, minivan, and a 1-year old!). Hoping I still feel this way when I am 75!

2. I am one of those who believes in fate and signs, and the more I experience in life, the more I believe in it. My husband on the other hand truly believes anything having to do with fate is created in one’s mind to make them feel better about the decisions they have made. Such a guy – intellectualizing something that seems so logical and beautiful. How can you not believe in fate when some things are just so obviously meant to be?

3. Why is it that kids have such fun with water? Their endless fascination with it fascinates me. It doesn’t matter if they are playing with it, sitting in it, or drinking it because water is fun in all of those situations apparently. My son can play with his water table for hours if I let him. Of course, after about 15 minutes of playing, most of the water is outside of the table, but he could care less that he is soaking wet. Water is purely functional for me, but the next time I take a shower or bath, I will try and imagine it from a 1-year old’s perspective and I encourage you to do the same!

That concludes today’s random ramblings!

We all have them

I have them. You have them. We all have them!

Right about now, I can see minds working overtime trying to figure out this obscure riddle. You’re thinking “what in the world could she be referring to?” Before your mind goes too far, let me reel you back in and tell you what I am talking about….EMBARRASSING TV SHOWS you enjoyed watching over and over again! (Not quite the post you were expecting, huh?). Join me while I journey back into the past to explore those television shows that defined my childhood and teenage years….the ones I still refuse to give up.

PERFECT STRANGERS: Who could forget Balki Bartokomous, the lovable, yet very misunderstood cousin from Mypos. And of course, there is the serious-natured Cousin Larry, who takes on the task of teaching Balki how to live like an American. Together, they created the “Dance of Joy” – a dance I am still known to do today if I am extremely excited. Sadly, you will only see reruns of this show randomly in the very early morning hours…but I heard rumors of a DVD being released in the near future!

FULL HOUSE: Everyone knows Danny Tanner and his brood of adorable little girls, DJ, Stephanie, and super-cute Michelle. Rounding out this colorful household are Jessie, the hair-loving Elvis-impersonator, and Joey, the comedian who coined the phrase (and hand gesture) “cut-it-out!” Living in a lovely San Francisco house, the family was always able to find perfect solutions to life’s daily struggles, and of course, all in a 1/2 hour time slot. Michelle is best remembered for saying “you got it dude” in almost every episode….I think if you counted the number of times she said it, that number would be in the 100′s! If you are a Full House fan like I am, then don’t be too sad because you can catch reruns of it daily on the ABC Family Channel.

FAMILY TIES: Ahh…the wonderful Keaton Family from Ohio. Steven and Elyse and their offspring Alex, Mallory, Jennifer, and eventually Andrew made up the quintessential family. There were sibling spats, marriage issues, and lots of growth and development of each family member over the years. Alex P. Keaton was a character that will be forever remembered as having an obsessive passion for President Reagan and anything political. Mallory was always a bit of a, how shall I say this nicely, airhead, but we still loved her. And Jennifer, being the baby for many years, struggled to make her own identity in this family of strong personalities. Elyse was a professional as well as a mom, which was a wonderful example of how motherhood can be – a healthy balance between family and work. Unfortunately, Family Ties episodes are few and far between, but they have been known to air on Nick-at-Nite and TvLand.

OTHER MENTIONABLE SHOWS:
Saved by the Bell…The infamous Zack Morris and his posse from Bayside High School. Many don’t know that this show initially started as “Good Morning Miss Bliss” and featured the gang in junior high school. (My son was partially named after Zack Morris. I only hope he doesn’t end up being a trouble-maker!)

Small Wonder…This show was focused on Vicki, the quiet, straight-faced little girl who was actually a robot but lived amongst a human family.

Alf….This little alien creature from Melmac tried hard for 4 seasons to assimilate to human life.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief trip down memory lane to explore the shows that paved the way for television today. OK, they had nothing to do with what is on t.v. today, but they sure were guilty pleasures, and still can be if you can catch an episode. Feel free to share your embarrassing television shows you just couldn’t live without. I promise, I won’t laugh!

The Bachelorette: Second Chance (for Deanna)

Ok, so am I the only one still watching The Bachelor/The Bachelorette. Now that it’s in its 101st season, the show is really getting desperate to come up with new and exciting features. And if they say “this is the MOST EXCITING rose ceremony ever” one more time, I think I am going to throw something at the television!

But even so, I sit faithfully by the tv every Monday night to watch new drama unfold. Currently, Deanna, the heart-broken contestant from a recent Bachelor show is searching for her true love….IN THE SAME PROCESS THAT BROKE HER HEART! To me, it seems ironic, but I guess true romantics will do anything to find that special someone. Tonight she visits the remaining bachelors’ hometowns to meet the parents. Should be interesting! A guy named Dave Campbell has been keeping a “live from LA” blog about the happenings on the show. Be sure to check his blog out at ABC.com.

For those of you who have never watched an episode of the show, good for you because it tends to become a bit of an addiction after awhile. Ask any husband whose wife watches it if he watches it, too, and he will adamantly say “no.” However, the reality is, these husbands are absolutely watching it and could tell you play-by-play what has happened so far in the season.

For the rest of you, here is a recap of the past bachelors/bachelorettes and their status after the show….

#1: Alex, a management consultant, chose Amanda, but broke up after several months

#2: Aaron, a VP for his family-owned banks, proposed to Helene, but broke up several months later

#3: Andrew, a sales manager for Firestone Family Estates, proposed to Jen, but broke up in 2003….he is now engaged to a non-reality show girl

#4: Bob, the funny mortgage company owner who was a contestant on a previous season, chose Estella, but broke up after the show aired….he is now married to an actress

#5: Jesse, a football player, picked Jessica, but (you guessed it), broke up after a few months of dating

#6: Byron, an older professional bass fisherman, proposed to Mary, a former contestant; they are reportedly getting married in 2008, however, she was charged with battery/assault against him after a domestic disturbance recently, so who knows!

#7: Charlie, an actor and brother of Jerry O’Connell, chose Sarah, but broke up in the fall of 2007

#8: Travis, an ER doctor (who is now a special guest doctor on Oprah), chose Sarah, but broke up after the show aired

#9: Prince Lorenzo Borghese (no ladies, not a current prince, but instead, a cosmetics entrepreneur), chose Jennifer, but broke up in early 2007…(FYI, he was voted the worst bachelor by viewers)

#10: Andy, a triathlete/doctor/naval officer, proposed to Tessa, but broke off the engagement months after the finale, and even though they continued to date, they broke up for good in 2007 (are you noticing a pattern here?)

#11: Brad, a bar owner, chose NO ONE! He got a lot of flack for this, but I commend his ability to be truthful and honest to himself and the ladies. That truly WAS the “most exciting rose ceremony ever!”

#12: Matt, a British global financier, proposed to Shayne (daughter of actor Lorenzo Llamas), and currently they are still engaged, however the show just aired a few months ago, so give it time!

Those were the Bachelors, but don’t forget about the Bachelorettes!

#1: Trista, one of the final bachelorettes from Season 1, chose Ryan. They married in 2003 and had their first child, Max, in 2007. (Finally, a success story!)

#2: Meredith chose Ian, but their relationship ended in 2005

#3: Jen, who was chosen by Andrew in Season 3, chose Jerry, who proposed at the final rose ceremony, to which she rejected his proposal because “the chemistry was just not there”

#4: Deanna, who was rejected by Brad in that eventful season….is currently the Bachelorette.

I am not excellent in math by any means, but based on the few number of successes from this process and plain old common sense, I believe this process is completely flawed. Not only is the whole dating relationship publicized and scrutinized, the kinds of dates that happen are just not based in reality. Unless you are dating a very wealthy person, which most aren’t, dates like the ones on this show will never happen in “real life.” Therefore, when the contestants continue dating after the show, all the sizzle and swinging-from-the-chandelier feelings dissipate. Only natural of course, because the nature of dating is to get to know the REAL personality, not the packaged-nicely-for-television-ratings personality.

So, while the Bachelor is a failure for dating, it is a hit for television ratings. You all know where you will find me every Monday night until this show runs dry!

Music and Lyrics

So I have a question for everyone…..what was the first song you ever heard? I can’t remember the first song I ever heard actually, but I do remember the first tape I bought. It was Madonna’s “True Blue” cassette, which I played on my pink boom box. (If you don’t know what a boom box is, then Google it!)

As you can tell, I have music on my mind. Have you ever truly listened to the lyrics of the songs you are listening to? Even though I listen to music for the beat and musicality, I am always trying to understand the meaning of the song by listening to the actual words. Now, first I have to actually know what the words are instead of what my made up lyrics are. But once I know the right lyrics, I find the song takes on a life of its own. Some are beautiful, some sad, some with obvious meaning, and others with hidden messages. But whatever the song is, once you understand the words, you will never listen to it the same again.

For as long as I can remember, I have always associated songs with memories. So I can be listening to the radio and a song from my middle school years will come on (and it wasn’t all THAT long ago!). I am instantly transported back to that time….I can literally feel the same feelings and remember what life was like at that age. Sometimes remembering memories is a bad thing, but for the most part, it’s kind of a cool thing!

What songs make you think about memories or fun times in the past? I guarantee, even when you are 80 years old and hear that song, you will feel like you were a kid again!

Rock on….

Milk in a bag

On my recent travels to our neighbors to the North, Canada, I discovered a few things that are different.

First off, they do not use the MPH (miles per hour) system on the roadways, but rather KMP (kilometers per hour). This is a hard transition for someone like me, who is mathematically-challenged usually, and for the life of me, can’t remember being taught these measurements. (Maybe I was daydreaming that day in class). So when I say I was going 110-120, it isn’t really as fast as it sounds….it was really only 70-80mph.

The 2nd and most unusual find was milk-in-a-bag. I am totally serious! Canada sells their milk in a bag. It comes with a pitcher to pour it from I believe, but when you see it on the grocery store shelves, it’s in a squishy bag. For someone who has only ever seen milk in a carton, this is just strange! So I asked my own personal world traveler, my British husband, who else has milk-in-a-bag, and he couldn’t think of any other countries. Is Canada the only country who sells milk this way? I understand how it can help save the environment by cutting down on packaging, but I can’t help but think – when I open my fridge and see milk-in-a-bag, will I still want to drink it?

Our Canadian adventures totaled a long 8 days. It was a great trip in theory, but the logistics of it still leave us tired today – a whole day after returning. We got to see everywhere from Lansing, Michigan to Gatineau, Quebec. A day trip to Niagra Falls and a day driving to Ottawa rounded off this mile-rific vacation. While we enjoyed the sites (and learning the ever important French terms necessary to navigate through Canada), traveling by car with a 1-year old left us exhausted. He was pretty good considering how long we spent in the car, but he didn’t sleep much while actually in the car, which left us tired from trying to keep him occupied.

All in all, I loved Canada and plan to make more trips up there….but most likely, without a 1-year old!

I’m a blogger!

I am welcoming myself to the world of blogging today. With a busy wonderful life and hardly any extra time for anything else these days, someone might ask me why would I add this task to my list of duties?! The answer is simple: because I want to!

I am blessed….I have a great life with a wonderful son and husband, a graduate degree in counseling, and have had a ton of extraordinary experiences in my lifetime so far. But I am beginning to feel like something is missing. After thinking about this for awhile, I came to the conclusion that what’s missing is my sense of creativity. I used to be pretty creative and would draw, paint, and write. But after high school, I let that piece of me go to explore other things. Now, 11 years later, I feel the void.

As I ponder over my last 29 years, I start to think about what I would like to happen in the next 29. Here are some of those dreams….of course, I would like to have another child, travel more, and continue to enjoy each day to its fullest. One thing I am struggling with however is my career as a counselor. While I like counseling people, my love for it has changed recently. Maybe it was becoming a mother that changed my perception, but I no longer just want to help people in a traditional counseling manner, but rather find news ways to help people.

This thought, mixed with my longing for more creativity, has lead me to start to explore other vocational options. I’ve begun my own personal search to find a job that I would truly enjoy and feel allows me to express my pent up creativity. So let’s see….what do I enjoy? Learning about the entertainment/music industry, helping/interacting with people in some way, writing/drawing/creating, and thinking outside of the box.

What does all that mean and how is it going to help me find another way to fulfill the professional side of me? Who knows….but the important thing is that the thoughts have started and I am open to new ideas!